If you choose to get an extra controller for your Nintendo Switch 2, you can spend a lot — and get a lot in return. Buying Nintendo’s own $89 Switch 2 Pro Controller, for instance, will net you the console’s only wireless controller with a 3.5mm headphone jack for private listening, not to mention great-feeling rumble and a slick design. It’s not perfect, but it’s otherwise the total package in terms of features.
Technology
Runway-to-Space Challenge brings spaceflight closer
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For years, getting anything into space has been slow and expensive. You prepare for months, sometimes years, and you often get one shot to run your experiment. If something does not work, you wait again. That model is starting to change.
A new U.S. competition called the Runway-to-Space Spaceplane Challenge is opening the door to a different way of doing space research. Instead of relying on traditional rocket launches, teams will be able to fly payloads on a reusable spaceplane that takes off and lands on a runway. It sounds simple, but it could reshape how innovation happens.
SPACE CAPSULE MARKS MILESTONE FOR BRINGING CARGO BACK FROM ORBIT
The Aurora spaceplane from Dawn Aerospace is designed to take off and land like an aircraft, enabling rapid turnaround between missions. (Dawn Aerospace)
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How the Runway-to-Space Challenge changes space testing
The program is built around the Aurora spaceplane from Dawn Aerospace, operating out of the Infinity One Oklahoma Spaceport. This vehicle can reach the edge of space, traveling at speeds above Mach 3.5 and climbing to altitudes of about 62 miles. During each flight, payloads can experience a short window of microgravity that lasts just over two minutes.
On its own, that may sound similar to other suborbital missions. What makes this different is how often it can fly. The Aurora is designed for rapid turnaround, which means it can land, be prepared again and return to flight much faster than a traditional launch system. That shift removes one of the biggest bottlenecks in space research.
A closer look at how this spaceplane works
The Aurora spaceplane has already completed more than 60 missions, with a focus on making access to the edge of space more routine and scalable.
“Meaningful access to microgravity typically means going to orbit, which is expensive, slow, and often out of reach for early-stage ideas,” said Stefan Powell, CEO of Dawn Aerospace. “Aurora changes that by giving teams a fast, lower-cost way to access microgravity and iterate within months. It’s not a substitute for long-duration missions, but it enables experiments that would otherwise never leave the ground, turning ideas that might never have flown into viable missions that can ultimately progress to orbit.”
That idea of faster iteration is what makes this program stand out. It gives researchers a way to test concepts, adjust them and return to flight without long delays.
Former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine also sees the bigger picture.
“This competition is about capturing the imagination of scientists, engineers and researchers, while also enabling a new way of working, where research can move faster, iterate more frequently, and strengthen U.S. leadership in space-enabled science and industry.”
US GENERAL WARNS RUSSIA MAY BE DEVELOPING NUCLEAR ANTI-SATELLITE WEAPON IN ORBIT
The uncrewed Mk-II rocket-powered spaceplane by Dawn Aerospace demonstrates its capability to reach high altitudes and speeds, advancing reusable spaceplane technology. (Dawn Aerospace)
Why spaceflight is starting to look more like aviation
Think about how commercial aviation works. Planes land, refuel and take off again in a matter of hours. That same rhythm is now being applied to space access. Instead of designing a perfect experiment for a single launch, researchers can test, adjust and fly again. That creates a more flexible process where ideas can evolve in real time.
This matters because many early-stage concepts never make it to space. The cost and complexity are simply too high. With a reusable system, smaller teams have a better chance to test bold ideas without waiting years between attempts. It does not replace long missions in orbit, but it fills a gap that has existed for decades.
How the US is pushing faster space innovation
The challenge is being led by the Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority, which is working to expand the state’s role in the growing space economy. There is real investment behind that effort. The spaceport is undergoing major upgrades to support more advanced operations, including new infrastructure designed specifically for spaceplane missions.
Programs like this reflect a broader push to speed up space research and make it more responsive. When teams can test ideas more frequently, progress tends to follow. The timeline reflects that long view. Applications open in April 2026 and close in September, with flights expected to begin in 2027. That gives teams time to prepare payloads while the supporting infrastructure continues to expand.
Runway-to-Space Challenge details and how to apply
If you are wondering who can actually take part, the program is structured to center on Oklahoma institutions while still allowing broader collaboration. Applications must be led by an Oklahoma-based university or research institution, though out-of-state partners can join as collaborators. The application window opens April 16, 2026, and closes Sept. 25, 2026, at 5 p.m. CT.
Selected teams will be able to fly payloads weighing up to 33 pounds. Each mission can reach altitudes of about 62 miles, exceed Mach 3.5 and provide up to 127 seconds of microgravity. Flights are expected to begin in mid- to late 2027, giving teams about a year to prepare.
FIRST ELECTRIC PASSENGER PLANE LANDS AT JFK IN MILESTONE FLIGHT
Flying at the edge of space, these missions give researchers a short window of microgravity to test ideas and refine them quickly. (Dawn Aerospace)
What this means to you
Even if you are not working in aerospace, this shift could still affect you. When access to space becomes faster and more flexible, innovation tends to accelerate. Research that once took years can move forward in shorter cycles. That can influence everything from materials science to weather forecasting.
It also signals a broader change. Space is moving away from rare, high-stakes missions and toward a model that supports routine experimentation. That usually leads to more competition and more rapid breakthroughs. Over time, those breakthroughs often show up in everyday technology, even if the connection is not always obvious.
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Kurt’s key takeaways
Spaceflight has always pushed the limits of what is possible, but the process has remained slow for a long time. The Runway-to-Space Challenge points to a future where reaching the edge of space becomes more practical and repeatable. That alone could unlock ideas that have been sitting on the sidelines. If space starts to operate more like aviation, the pace of discovery could change in ways that ripple far beyond the aerospace industry.
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If spaceflight becomes routine enough for constant testing, how quickly should we expect new technologies to move from experiments to everyday life? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.
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But it’d be a disservice to you to call it a day there. There are several third-party models that are cheaper, yet don’t make many compromises in terms of features. I’ve spent time testing a handful of these gamepads, and there’s a small batch of models that I think will satisfy most people, with a range of styles, prices, and features.
Every controller I’ve included in this guide is compatible with both the Switch 2 and the original Switch (all of them can remotely wake the Switch 2), as well as PC. Each offering also includes better, longer-lasting joystick technology than you’ll get with Nintendo’s flagship controller; the Switch 2 Pro Controller’s potentiometer-based joysticks are prone to degradation over time, after all, but our picks include either Hall effect or TMR joysticks. I’ve highlighted any controller-specific perks in the blurbs below.
What I’m looking for
I put my pricey Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller away and cycle in each of these candidates for multi-session tests with a mix of Switch 2 games. I spend time assessing their ergonomics, button location, and the quality of each button press and trigger pull. I also strive to test each controller’s unique functions.
Most people would rather spend $89.99 on two games, not a single controller. We sought cheaper alternatives to Nintendo’s fantastic Switch 2 Pro Controller, but we hate compromising on features and quality as much as anyone. We aim to include wireless gamepads that can remotely wake the Switch 2, as well as offerings that feature good-feeling rumble and a few extras, such as amiibo support.
Our top picks are just as comfortable to use as Nintendo’s flagship gamepad — perhaps more comfortable, depending on your taste. We’ve included picks with Xbox- and PlayStation-style stick layouts, too, as well as one that feels similar to the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller.
Nintendo opted for potentiometer-based joysticks in its pricey Switch 2 controller, which may result in “stick drift” later on, assuming last-gen controller tech is anything to go by. Every pick in this guide, however, builds on that technology with either Hall effect or tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) joysticks, which are drift-resistant by design.
The best Switch 2 controller for most people
$50
The Good
- TMR joysticks
- amiibo support
- Great rumble
The Bad
- Clicky buttons are divisive
Supported platforms: Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC, Steam Deck, mobile / Connectivity: Bluetooth, wired / Connector type: USB-C / Mappable rear buttons: Yes, two / App customization: No / Rumble: Yes, HD / NFC: Yes / Motion: Yes / Power: Built-in rechargeable 1,200mAh battery / Console wake-up: Yes / Native Switch 2 OS support: No
The EasySMX S10 is nearly as capable and comfortable as the Switch 2 Pro Controller, yet it’s $30 cheaper at $59.99. It’s full of surprises, too, including the best adaptation of Nintendo’s HD rumble that I’ve felt in a third-party controller. It’s also one of the few options that can remotely wake the Switch 2 from sleep mode via Bluetooth. Lastly, it includes amiibo support — another rare feature to find in a third-party gamepad.
However, the S10 isn’t a Switch 2 Pro copycat; it’s a lot grippier, both around the grips themselves and on its stick caps. Button presses and trigger pulls feel different from most other controllers, too, yielding a softer press and shorter travel, which is likely to be the most divisive aspect of the S10. One of my favorite aspects of the S10’s design is its swappable eight-way (circular) D-pad, making diagonal attacks in Hollow Knight: Silksong considerably easier to execute than with a four-way D-pad.
If I could change one thing about the S10, it’d be the system-level buttons (screenshot, GameChat, and home). They’re crammed awkwardly just below the D-pad and right stick.
$34
The Good
- Native Switch 2 software support
- Just as comfy as the EasyMax S10
- Affordable price point
The Bad
- No amiibo support
- No HD rumble
Supported platforms: Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC, Steam Deck, mobile / Connectivity: Bluetooth, wired / Connector type: USB-C / Mappable rear buttons: Yes, two / App customization: No / Rumble: Yes / NFC: No / Motion: Yes / Power: Built-in rechargeable 1,000mAh battery / Console wake-up: Yes / Native Switch 2 OS support: Yes
While virtually identical to the S10 above, the S10 Lite makes a few compromises to reach its lower $39.99 price point. Most notably, it lacks support for amiibo figures, and its rumble effects are a clear downgrade compared to the HD rumble in the S10. What is unusual, however, is that EasySMX’s budget-friendly gamepad offers a feature I wish were in the step-up version: native support for the Switch 2.
Connecting the S10 Lite to a Switch 2 is as easy as connecting other controllers. But what’s unique is that it doesn’t require a strange sequence of button presses or Joy-Con removal for your console to remember it, which is not the case with the S10 and other gamepads. If you connect it once, you can wake the Switch 2 by pressing its Home button. What’s more, you can customize the two rear buttons on a per-game basis using the Switch 2’s interface, making it the only third-party controller that can utilize the OS to map commands to rear buttons.
At its core, the S10 Lite is an affordable controller that works like the Switch 2 Pro controller in ways that other manufacturers haven’t figured out yet. That’s great, and I love that its grips and overall shape make it just as comfortable to use as a Switch 2 Pro controller. But what it sacrificed (amiibo support, HD rumble) holds it back from being the very best option available.
Read my EasySMX S10 Lite hands-on.
$60
The Good
- Adjustable tension TMR thumbsticks
- Quiet, floating D-pad
The Bad
- Rumble falls behind cheaper models
Supported platforms: Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC, mobile / Connectivity: Bluetooth, wired / Connector type: USB-C / Mappable rear buttons: Yes, four / App customization: Coming in 2026 sometime / Rumble: Yes / NFC: No / Motion: Yes / Power: Built-in rechargeable battery, 950mAh / Console wake-up: Yes / Native Switch 2 OS support: No
GuliKit’s newer TT Pro is focused on cramming in more features while keeping the price reasonable. This wireless gamepad features TMR thumbsticks in a PlayStation-style stick layout. And notably, both sticks have adjustable tension (like the Xbox Elite Series 2 controller) via a Phillips head screw that’s revealed once you pop off the stick caps. A tool is included that lets you dial in the sticks to be fast and flighty or have them resist snapping back to their original resting place. It’s great to see in a controller that costs well under $100.
The TT Pro has the best floating, eight-way directional pad I’ve used. I play games in the living room while my wife reads, and she can’t hear its quiet yet tactile clicks, even as I’m having a frantic battle in Hollow Knight: Silksong. Like the KingKong 3 Max, the TT Pro features adjustable trigger stops (full Hall effect analog pull or tactile click), and you can install up to four rear paddles to map buttons to. Other niceties include extra face buttons and a tool to remove them in the box (in case you want an Xbox-style face button layout while connected to a PC). It comes in a hard case with a Hyperlink Gen 2 wireless controller adapter, which makes it easier to connect the TT Pro (and myriad other controllers) to your Switch 2.
As for how the TT Pro differs from the step-up TT Max, here are the highlights: The Pro doesn’t include extra stick caps of varying heights, nor can its firmware switch between emulating a four- or eight-way D-pad like the Max can (the Pro only supports eight-way).
$45
The Good
- Comfy and compact
- Silent sticks and buttons
- Good feature set for $50
The Bad
- Loud shoulder buttons
- System-level buttons are tough to feel for
Supported platforms: Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC, mobile / Connectivity: Bluetooth, wired / Connector type: USB-C / Mappable rear buttons: Yes, two / App customization: Yes / Rumble: Yes, HD / NFC: Yes / Motion: Yes / Power: Built-in rechargeable battery, 1,000mAh / Console wake-up: Yes / Native Switch 2 OS support: No
It’s clear that Mobapad’s primary goal with its $71 Chitu2 HD was to convince people they were using Nintendo’s Switch 2 Pro Controller in a blind test. It crushed that goal. The curves feel identical to Nintendo’s $90 gamepad, as do the soft clicks of the customizable GL and GR rear buttons. The rumble is great, too, and its TMR sticks are nearly silent even when I deliberately try to wiggle them chaotically. It’s great to have a controller that feels so similar yet doesn’t skimp on features.
Build quality is stellar, with the pink color option being particularly nice. As with its whisper-quiet TMR sticks, most of the Chitu2’s other buttons and triggers don’t yield a clacky sound. However, there are some small issues that may not bother you: its floating directional pad is a little louder and mushier than the one GuliKit uses in the TT Pro, and its pair of L and R bumpers are louder to press than the clicking of the analog sticks. Another button-related issue is that the home and screenshot buttons sit nearly flush with the plastic housing, making them tough to feel for without looking.
$60
The Good
- Includes dock and 2.4GHz dongle
- Highly customizable
- Comfortable for small hands
Supported platforms: Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC, Steam Deck, mobile / Connectivity: Bluetooth, 2.4GHz, wired / Connector type: USB-C / Mappable rear buttons: Yes, two / App customization: Yes / Rumble: Yes / NFC: No / Motion: Yes / Power: Built-in rechargeable 1,000mAh battery / Console wake-up: Yes / Native Switch 2 OS support: No
8BitDo’s Pro 3 is a great yet pricey Switch 2 Pro alternative with a PlayStation-style stick layout. At $69.99, it’s not as affordable (nor as value-packed) as the top contenders. However, the Pro 3 offers a lot of customization, some being cosmetic, while other aspects can impact gameplay.
It has a lot going for it, with TMR joysticks, two back paddles, and a total of three shoulder buttons per side thanks to new custom M buttons. Its analog stick caps can be popped off in favor of glossy arcade stick-style nubs, which were my preferred choice in fighting games (plus, they just look cool). Its ABXY buttons can be suctioned off with an included tool to swap the layout as needed, and for visual flair, each controller includes colored buttons to evoke a retro Nintendo console. Also, it has trigger locks, letting you set triggers to have a short, clicky pull or the default travel distance.
However, I’d skip the Pro 3 if you want good rumble feedback. It’s pretty lousy on that front, to the point that I preferred to turn off rumble entirely in games. If you’re considering the similarly priced Ultimate 2 Bluetooth, it also has poor rumble, but it’s a great controller otherwise that offers similar features with an Xbox-style stick layout.
Read my full 8BitDo Pro 3 review.
Update, May 20th: Adjusted pricing / availability, and added a related links for our impressions of Dbrand’s Joy-Lock grips for the Joy-Con 2, as well as for relevant news on the Switch 2 price increase coming in September.
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Gail Barr expected birthday calls on her 70th birthday. She got plenty of sweet messages from family and friends. Then one voicemail turned her day upside down. The caller claimed to be Chief Deputy Derek Elmore with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office. He said Gail had an urgent legal matter involving court documents from an Arizona judge. When Gail called back, the story got scarier.
She had missed jury duty, the caller said. Now she needed to pay a nearly $10,000 fine or risk arrest. Gail is a nurse practitioner. She knows how to handle medical pressure. But a missed jury duty threat felt different. “Well, I didn’t know,” Gail said on the CyberGuy Report podcast at cyberguy.com/podcast, “I know medical things, but I didn’t know how that worked.” That confusion helped the scammer pull her deeper into a jury duty crypto scam.
6 CRYPTO SCAM SCRIPTS CRIMINALS USE TO STEAL YOUR MONEY
Scammers told Gail Barr to stay on the phone, withdraw cash and use a Bitcoin machine to avoid arrest for missing jury duty. (Getty Images/Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutsson)
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How the jury duty crypto scam fooled Gail
The scammer did not sound like a random criminal. He used real local names and official-sounding titles. Gail said the voicemail mentioned Judge Jennifer Zipes. She checked the name and found that Jennifer Zipes was indeed an Arizona judge. She also looked up Derek Elmore and found a law enforcement connection. That made the call feel real.
Gail said she was transferred to someone who claimed to be Police Captain John Bailey. He gave her a badge number. He also told her she had been hand-selected for a grand jury case because of her medical background. That detail hit hard. Gail had worked in nursing and as a nurse practitioner. So the story felt possible.
“They said that I was hand-selected by the judge to appear in a grand jury, a medical malpractice case, because of my background in nursing,” Gail said. “So that kind of rang a bell that I believed them.” Then came the threat. The caller claimed Gail had signed a subpoena, failed to appear in court and now faced citations for contempt of court and failure to appear.
Why the fake sheriff’s call felt so real
Scammers know how to use fear. They also know how to use pieces of real information to make a lie sound believable. That is what happened to Gail. The caller used the names of real people. He knew enough about her work to make the story fit. He also sounded calm and official.
Gail said there were “no accents involved” and that the call sounded “totally legit.” When I asked her if it was a legitimate call, Gail’s answer was direct. “Not at all,” she said. Still, in the moment, the pressure worked. “Something seemed a little weird, I think, but I just kept going because I was frightened,” Gail said. That is the part scammers count on. They want you scared enough to act before you think.
The $9,260 demand that sent Gail to a Bitcoin ATM
The caller told Gail she needed to pay $9,260. He called it a payment through a “federal bonding kiosk.” That phrase sounds official. But it was really a Bitcoin machine inside a Circle K. Gail said she did not know much about Bitcoin. Her son did, but the scammer told her not to call anyone. “They said you cannot get off the phone with us,” Gail said. “You must stay on the phone the whole time.”
The caller claimed they needed to make sure she did not “skip town.” He also told her not to tell the bank why she needed the cash. That is one of the biggest red flags in this entire story. Gail withdrew the money. Then she went to the crypto kiosk. The scammer sent her an official-looking barcode that appeared to come from the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.
She scanned it and fed the cash into the machine. “We had to do it, like, five different times because there was a limit to how much you could put in at once,” Gail said. “I was getting very tired. I was so tired.” By the end, Gail had deposited $9,260. “And that was money that I had worked for,” Gail said. “I went back to work to help pay for my son’s medical bills.”
Jury duty scammers may use real judges’ names, fake badge numbers and arrest threats to pressure victims into sending cryptocurrency. (Anna Barclay/Getty Images)
The crypto scam did not stop after Gail paid
After Gail sent the money, the scammer told her to go to the sheriff’s department. Then he suddenly claimed there was another problem. This time, he said Gail had a federal citation. He wanted another $12,000. Gail said she did not have that much money. So the scammer lowered the demand to $3,000 and sent her to another bank. That second bank visit saved her from losing more.
The bank manager asked what the money was for. Gail gave the excuse that the scammer had told her to use. Then the manager asked whether she planned to give the money to her son that day. That question broke through the fear. Gail said no. The manager took her aside and talked with her. He knew something was wrong.
How Gail got her jury duty scam money back
After Gail realized what had happened, she went home and told her husband and son. She also contacted a local news reporter. That is how Gail learned about Arizona’s Cryptocurrency Kiosk License Fraud Prevention law. “It went into effect a month before my scam,” Gail said. “And what it does is it protects people like myself who have been scammed to get all of their money back.”
Arizona’s law requires crypto kiosk operators to provide fraud warnings, transaction receipts, daily limits and refund protections for certain victims who report fraud within the required time window. The Arizona Corporation Commission says the law took effect Sept. 26, 2025. Gail moved fast. “You have to file a police report within 30 days,” she said. “And you have to contact the cryptocurrency kiosk, Bitcoin Machine Company. I also made a report to the attorney general.” After she completed the steps, Gail got her money back by check. “It was a good birthday present,” she said.
States with crypto ATM fraud laws
Crypto ATM scams have become a major problem. AARP reports that cryptocurrency kiosks were used in scams tied to more than $389 million in reported losses in 2025. Adults 60 and older accounted for 86% of reported losses in cases where the victim’s age was known. AARP also reports that 29 states had passed crypto kiosk laws as of April 2026. These laws can include transaction limits, fraud warning signs, licensing rules and receipt requirements. Indiana became the first state to enact a statewide ban. Tennessee later became the second state to enact a ban.
States publicly identified in AARP reporting and related coverage as having enacted crypto ATM protections, restrictions, or bans include: California, Connecticut, Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Tennessee, Vermont, and Wisconsin.
Some states regulate the machines instead of banning them. Others limit daily deposits, require warning signs or force operators to help refund fraud victims. California and Connecticut were among the first states to pass crypto ATM laws in 2023. Vermont extended a moratorium on new crypto kiosks to July 1, 2026. Nebraska passed statewide legislation in 2025. Iowa passed a crypto kiosk consumer protection law in 2025.
THIS IS WHAT YOU ARE DOING WRONG WHEN SCAMMERS CALL
Authorities warn that real courts do not demand jury duty fines through Bitcoin ATMs, gift cards, wire transfers or payment apps. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Red flags in a jury duty crypto scam
This scam had several warning signs. Knowing them can help you stop the same trick before it drains your account.
A caller threatens arrest
Real courts do not demand instant payment over the phone to make an arrest warrant disappear.
The caller tells you to stay on the phone
Scammers do this so you cannot call family, police or the real court.
The caller says not to tell the bank
A real law enforcement officer will not tell you to lie about why you need cash.
The caller sends you to a crypto kiosk
Courts, sheriff’s offices and government agencies do not collect fines through Bitcoin ATMs.
The caller uses real names
Scammers often use public information to make the lie feel real.
The caller creates panic
They want you scared, tired and rushed.
Tips to protect yourself from a jury duty scam
Here are the warning signs to watch for and the simple steps that can help you avoid falling for a jury duty scam.
1) Hang up and verify the claim yourself
Hang up if someone says you will be arrested unless you pay immediately. Then call the court directly using a number from an official government website. Do not use the phone number left in the voicemail. Also, avoid links sent by text or email. Scammers can spoof phone numbers, copy official names and build fake websites that look convincing. Use strong antivirus software, to help block malicious links, fake websites and phishing messages before they trick you into handing over personal information. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com
2) Never pay a court fine through a Bitcoin ATM
A real court will not demand payment through cryptocurrency, gift cards, wire transfers or payment apps. That means any request to visit a Bitcoin machine should stop the conversation. The same goes for a caller who says the machine is a “bonding kiosk” or “federal kiosk.” Those phrases are meant to make the scam sound official.
3) Talk to someone before you withdraw cash
Call a spouse, an adult child, a friend, an attorney or a local court clerk before withdrawing money. A quick conversation can break the scammer’s hold. Scammers often tell victims to stay on the phone to maintain control. They do not want you to hear a calm second opinion. If a caller says you cannot hang up, hang up anyway.
4) Tell the bank what is really happening
Ask your bank for help if you feel rushed, scared or confused. Tell the teller or bank manager exactly what the caller said. Do not use the cover story the scammer gave you. Gail was told to say the money was for her son. That kind of instruction is a major red flag. A real law enforcement officer will not tell you to lie to your bank.
Scammers told Gail Barr to stay on the phone, withdraw cash and use a Bitcoin machine to avoid arrest for missing jury duty. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
5) Check your jury duty status through the court
Look up your jury duty status through your county court website. You can also call the clerk’s office directly. Do not click a link sent by the caller. Some jury duty scammers now use fake websites to collect personal information and steal money.
6) Watch for personal details that make the scam feel real
Scammers may know your name, job, address or family details. That does not make the call legitimate. Much of that information can come from public records, data broker sites or past data breaches. If a caller uses personal details to scare you, pause before you react.
7) Use a data removal service to reduce your online exposure
Consider using a data removal service to reduce the personal information scammers can find about you online. These services can help remove your name, address, phone number and other details from many people-search and data broker sites. This will not erase everything from the internet. However, it can make it harder for scammers to build a convincing story around your life, job or family. Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com
HOW SCAMMERS BUILD A PROFILE ON YOU USING DATA BROKERS
What to do if you already paid a crypto scammer
If you already sent money through a crypto kiosk, speed matters. Acting quickly can help you document the fraud, secure your accounts and possibly qualify for protections in your state.
Act fast after a crypto scam payment
Move quickly if you have already sent money through a crypto kiosk. Time can matter, especially in states with refund protections. Some state crypto ATM laws require victims to report the fraud within a set window. In Gail’s case, Arizona’s law required fast action, including a police report and contact with the kiosk operator.
File a police report right away
Start with a police report. Ask for a copy or report number. You may need that report when you contact the crypto kiosk company, your bank, your state attorney general or any consumer protection agency.
Contact the crypto kiosk operator
Check the receipt or the machine for the crypto kiosk operator’s contact information. Then report the fraud directly to the company. Share the transaction details, time, location, barcode or wallet address if you have it. Also, provide the police report number.
Report the scam to federal agencies
Report the scam to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov. Also, file a report with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. These reports help federal agencies track scam patterns. They may also create a record you can use when dealing with the kiosk operator or state officials.
Contact your state attorney general
Report the scam to your state attorney general’s office. This step can be especially important if your state has crypto kiosk protections or refund rules. Your state may also track complaints tied to specific kiosk operators. That can help investigators spot larger scam patterns.
Save every piece of evidence
Keep the receipt, barcode, phone number, voicemail, text messages and any names the caller used. Also, write down the address of the kiosk and the time of each transaction. Do not delete anything, even if it feels embarrassing. Those details may help law enforcement, the kiosk operator or your state consumer protection office review the case.
Ask your bank to secure your accounts
Contact your bank after the scam. Even if the crypto payment cannot be reversed, the bank can help protect your accounts. Ask about new debit cards, password changes, account alerts and extra verification steps. Also, review recent transactions for anything suspicious.
Gail Barr lost nearly $10,000 after a fake sheriff’s office caller claimed she missed jury duty and had to pay through a Bitcoin ATM. (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutsson)
Kurt’s key takeaways
Gail’s story shows how fast a normal day can turn into a financial emergency. One fake sheriff’s call, one believable legal threat and one Bitcoin machine almost cost her nearly $10,000 for good. The most important lesson is simple. Fear is the scammer’s favorite tool. They want you rushed, isolated and too embarrassed to ask for help. Gail got her money back because Arizona had a new law, and she acted fast. Many victims never recover a dime. That is why these crypto kiosk laws matter. They give people a fighting chance after scammers use technology to make cash vanish. If someone calls and says you missed jury duty, pause before you panic. Real courts do not solve legal problems through a Bitcoin ATM at a convenience store. To hear more of Gail’s story, check out the CyberGuy Report podcast at cyberguy.com/podcast
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The era of ultra-high performance Mercedes EVs is here. The German automaker finally revealed its new super sedan, the AMG GT 4-door coupe, with technology borrowed from the automaker’s XX concept that last year made history by driving 24,901 miles in under 8 days at Nardò Ring in southern Italy.
With the production model, Mercedes rethought its approach to motors and batteries in the hopes of delivering a high performance vehicle that could go toe-to-toe with even some hypercars. The new AMG GT utilizes three axial flux motors developed by Mercedes subsidiary YASA, delivering up to 1,153 horsepower and 1,475 lb-ft of torque. Mercedes claims to be the first to use these types of motors, which thanks to their thin disc shape weigh just a fraction of a traditional radial motor while still delivering massive horsepower.
The high-performance battery, meanwhile, utilizes tall, ultra-slim cylindrical cells that are only 1 inch in diameter, allowing heat to escape from the core to the outside surface almost immediately. In addition, Mercedes developed a special, high-tech oil that is non-conductive so as not to cause an electrical short. The oil flows directly around every single individual cell for direct cooling. Inspired by Formula 1, this system provides 20 kW of cooling power, or about four times more cooling capacity than a standard EQS battery. You can drag race it over and over again, and it theoretically won’t overheat.
The AMG GT 4-door coupe is built on an 800-volt architecture capable of handling ultra-fast charging up to 600 kW. That plus the innovative cooling system enables charging from 10-80 percent in just 11 minutes, Mercedes says. The nickel-cobalt-manganese-aluminum cathode, combined with an anode containing silicon, can achieve an energy density of over 298 Wh-per-kilogram. The EV can also switch from 800V to 400V when required and supports five global DC charging standards (including NACS and CCS2).
Of course, this all translates into an absolute demon-level track car. But of course, like most automakers, Mercedes is anxious about how race enthusiasts will take to a completely silent electric motor. That’s why the AMG GT 4-door coupe will also feature over 1,600 sound files derived from the AMG GT R to simulate engine notes, exhaust burbles, and traction interruptions during virtual gear changes. It also has distinct sounds for unlocking, entering, and charging the vehicle.
But it isn’t just a fast car that makes fake sounds. The AMG GT 4-door coupe also has a lot of computing power. Mercedes centralized the brain of the vehicle into the AMG Race Engineer Core, running on the automaker’s brand new MB.OS operating system. Instead of a dozen small chips arguing with each other, one ultra-advanced master chip sits in the center of the car and simultaneously controls everything from driving, charging, suspension, and battery cooling.
Inside you’ll find not one, not two, but three screens, all housed under one continuous glass surface. That includes the 10.2-inch driver display, a 14-inch angled central multimedia screen, and a 14-inch passenger display running MB.OS. Owners can track all their metrics, including aero, heat, and energy usage in real time.
Mercedes didn’t release the official pricing yet, but said that GT 55 version would be available in late 2026, followed by the GT 63 in early 2027.
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